Pastor David Keuss - Hope without Compromise

Forgiveness. Part II. What is it to forgive from a generous heart and mind? Peter is a classic person in Scripture to ponder. Often given to being quick to act, Peter sometimes regrets actions. But also, Peter would have been wronged by others. Forgiving and being forgiven are a part of a healthy Christian life. Peter was one of the inner three disciples of Jesus, who had at the point of Matthew chapter eighteen heard much of Jesus' teaching. He has some interesting conversations with Jesus in general, but we encounter him asking Jesus on our topic, what is considered generous?  Have you ever sat at dinner and asked people if they could meet someone in Scripture, who would it be, and what would they ask? Talking to a relative over a meal, things of faith came up. She said she would love to sit down at dinner with Jesus. A few topics came to her mind that she would love to get solid answers. Us too, wouldn’t you love to be able to sit down with the Lord Jesus for a few hours to chat...

Forgiveness. Forgiveness gets a bad rap today. Sometimes it is unappealing because of the false views of what forgiveness entails. But know this, forgiveness is primarily an action between you and the Lord, you offer to others, since you have been forgiven. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew reveals this as a linchpin to regular Christian fellowship with God the Father. Forgiveness is explained by the Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter six as a part of our regular walk with the Lord, not as a rare occurrence. As we go to God our Father, we forgive others. Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer as a model prayer, to cover key ground, but also as a reminder of things, like forgiveness. Given it is so important to regular Christian living, what motivates us to forgive? Consider how the prayer begins. "Our Father." Forgiving too is done; so as to show forth we belong to the Lord’s household of faith, through union with Jesus Christ our Savior.  Our identity reflects who God the Father is, i...